Page:Great Britain at War.djvu/62

This page has been validated.
50
GREAT BRITAIN AT WAR

charge. I heard the humming drone of shells coming from afar, a hum that grew to a wail — a shriek — and the sickening crash as they smote her or threw up great waterspouts high as her lofty fighting-tops; I seemed to hear through it all the ring of electric bells from the various fire-controls, and voices calm and all unshaken by the hellish din uttering commands down the many speaking-tubes.

"And you," said I, turning to the youthful figure beside me, "you were in the battle?"

He blushingly admitted that he was.

"And how did you feel?"

He wrinkled his smooth brow and laughed a little shyly.

"Really I — I hardly know, sir."

I asked him if at such times one was not inclined to feel a trifle shaken, a little nervous, or, might one say, afraid?

"Yes, sir," he agreed politely, "I suppose so — only, you see, we were all too jolly busy to think about it!"

"Oh!" said I, taking out a cigarette,

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.